The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
With jump ropes in hand, some students at Ruth Betts School showed off their skills Monday afternoon at an assembly for the Heart and Stroke FoundationÕs Jump Rope For Heart. Vanessa James has been organizing the event, which she says should do pretty well this year. At the assembly, to let the students learn about the program, the students watched a short video on the positive ways the money and awareness are raised from Jump Rope For Heart. James brought forward a friend from Kindergarten, Daryl Dumas. ÒI want to introduce Daryl to you to let you see someone who had heart surgery,Ó she said the K-8 audience. ÒHe is feeling much better because of it.Ó James made it clear to the students that money raised can help other students like Daryl. Aside from helping people, those participating are helping themselves also. ÒJust by participating you will get your heart pumping and become healthier for it,Ó she said. But of course there are rewards for the students. The school has made it their goal to make $1,000. As James said, if 100 kids brought in $10, Ruth Betts School Principal John ClarkÕs hair will be dyed a bright colour of the studentÕs choice. Some other perks for the kids involved id the chance for three students to have lunch with Clark as well as some prizes and the chance to win a trip to Disneyland. While the students will be getting active and raising awareness, the Heart and Stroke Foundation put out some facts that show there is still more that needs to be done for the children. According to their website: One in four Canadian Children and adolescents aged two to 17 is overweight of obese Only 20 per cent of children aged six to 12 get their required daily intake of vegetables and fruit Over a million kids are exposed to secondhand smoke every day, most of which comes from their own homes Fifty per cent of children and youth aged 5 to 17 arenÕt active enough for optimal growth and development. The students of Ruth Betts School have been canvassing the area all week in hopes of meeting their $1,000 goal. Students will be jumping throughout different gym classes next week for the money they were pledged.
